The Man Behind Your Favourite Bollywood Songs ft. Prasoon Joshi

Meet India's most beloved lyricist talk about his songs, relationships with AR Rahman and the future of writers in the age of AI. This conversation with Prasoon Joshi is a pure masterclass in creativity, courage and the unbreakable human spirit. In this episode of Longplay, Prasoon Joshi, who is a Padma Shri recipient, poet, lyricist and creative visionary shares his journey from the mountains of Uttarakhand to writing some of Indian cinema's most iconic songs, his rare creative bond with AR Rahman, and why authentic human voices are the only thing that can never be replaced in the Age of AI. Prasoon Joshi is one of India's most celebrated lyricists and poets, best known for writing the complete soundtrack of Delhi 6 and Taare Zameen Par with AR Rahman, Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and dozens of other landmark films. A Physics graduate and MBA holder, he began his creative career in advertising before becoming one of Hindi cinema's most distinctive voices. He has received the Padma Shri, National Film Awards and numerous other honours for his contribution to Indian literature and cinema. Beyond films, Prasoon is a published poet, a passionate philosopher and the CEO and CCO of McCann Worldgroup India. His work consistently bridges science, spirituality, literature and popular culture in a way that no other creative voice in India does today. Chapters: 00:00 – Poetry is Life: “Kavita is a constant exploration” 02:13 – How Struggles Shape You Like River Stones 05:02 – From Physics & MBA to Poetry 12:13 – Writing “Maa” (Taare Zameen Par) & Vulnerability 14:28 – “Masti Ki Paathshala” & H2SO4 Lyric Story 20:26 – The Magic of “Dil Gira Dafatan” (Delhi-6) 23:58 – The Kasturi Metaphor in Lyrics 25:22 – Spirituality in “Rang De” 27:33 – Why Rahman & Prasoon Still Listen to Delhi-6 28:59 – A.R. Rahman’s Discipline & Mood Swings ABOUT LONGPLAY: Longplay is a podcast by Confluence Media, where conversations are slow, thoughtful and meant to be heard end to end. Subscribe to Longplay for slow, uninterrupted conversations with artists and creators who care about the work more than the noise.